Part 8 (1/2)

He frowned deeply and shook his head as they moved past the injured man.

”I am going to have to disappoint you, Your Highness. Much as it pains me to say it, Vanquish is not ready to be raced. His strengths are obvious to see, but his fiery temper makes him unreliable in the extreme. People could be killed if one such as him is let loose in a crowd.”

The Prince stopped dead and stared up in surprise at Geoffrey.

”Are you denying me your services?”

Geoffrey looked back down at the man.

”Not denying you, no. Just declining your kind offer and advising on your best course of action. The animal could be a great contender, if trained. He has the spirit necessary but needs to learn to control it. He is young yet and will learn. If I had him for three months you would see a great benefit, not least of which would help with your turnover of staff.” He lifted his chin in the direction of the stableman who groaned in misery as his friends lifted him onto the pallet.

The Prince's eyes widened.

”Good G.o.d! You are refusing to race Vanquish for me...You are braver than I had first supposed.” He took a deep breath. ”I probably don't need to tell you but this opportunity will not come your way again. There are many others who will willingly take your place.”

Geoffrey sighed and shrugged.

”Then I wish them and anyone else in the race very good luck because, at this moment in time, that horse is not ready. It would not be fair to him or to me if we were to race him. His inexperience could prove disastrous. I am afraid that you will have to give someone braver than I a chance.”

The Prince stared up thoughtfully at Geoffrey for a long moment before he turned back to Charlotte who had been kneeling at the injured stableman's side. She looked up as the Prince waved his hand, beckoning her towards him.

”Come my dear, do not worry your head over him, and certainly do not soil your skirts. Men like these are two a penny. I'll send him off with five pounds and have him replaced within the hour.”

Charlotte's beautiful blue eyes hardened to shards of ice as she stood, but the Prince seemed not to notice and held out the crook of his arm. She glanced up at Geoffrey who fell back behind them as they made their way out of the stables, into the carriage that had brought them and back towards the palace. She wasn't at all surprised when the Prince announced that he had sudden, urgent business and that their promised tea would have to wait for a more convenient time. His footman saw him down from the carriage as he gave instructions for his driver to take them home.

Charlotte sat back in the squabs, pulling threads from her glove as Geoffrey stared out of the coach window.

”I think I have offended him greatly.” Geoffrey spoke at last.

Charlotte nodded and stopped pulling the threads.

”I thought for a moment that he was going to have you taken to the tower. I can see why you refused him though. The man is mad to attempt racing an animal like that. I doubt that many could ever ride him.”

Geoffrey leaned back and considered her words.

”And yet I feel sure that someone will fill the saddle come race day. I fear that there are not many who would refuse the Prince. I will advise Lord Latham against attempting it though. Without criticising his horsemans.h.i.+p, there is no way that he is up to the task. The man would be thrown within a mile.”

Charlotte frowned.

”Did he want to ride for the Prince? Why on earth should he do such a thing?”

Geoffrey thought for a moment and then decided to tell the tale.

”His conscience is p.r.i.c.king him. His name was mentioned when a young woman's virtue was called into question. Even though he had done nothing wrong he liked the girl well enough, and fearing the consequences for her if he did not, he made her an offer of marriage, but being an honourable woman, she refused him on the basis that her family had lied in order to force his hand. They are friends but they do not love one another. To keep her family quiet and in the hope of covering the scandal, his father paid the woman's family a sum of money to remove her from his son's circles. Her family accepted the payment and immediately disowned her. They have sent her to live with some ghastly old aunt in the country. The younger Lord Latham is not a wealthy man in his own right and I believe he thought that Lord Davenport's prize money would be enough to set up his friend in her own home. But however badly he feels for the woman and however much he would like to help, there is no point in putting his life in danger. I must warn him not to accept the Prince's offer if he should give it.”

Charlotte tilted her head.

”I had heard a rumour about Annabel Bellingham from Louise. The family are apparently notorious for their aspirations. Poor girl. I am glad that he thinks of her still.”

Geoffrey nodded.

”But not to the extent of risking his life. He says that he has luck at the gaming tables and sends her any money that he wins. It's an admirable thing to do but not enough. Maybe he will place a wager on the race instead of riding, though I would not advise him to gamble on the Prince's horse. He is likely to send his rider into a ditch.”

Charlotte looked quizzically at her companion.

”A wager? How interesting. I had not considered the possibility. How does one manage such a thing?” She stared out of the window as she spoke in light tones.

Geoffrey snorted.

”By the usual means, I suppose. One offers another odds on the winning outcome. I'll lay you a wager that the Prince's horse loses.” He raised his eyebrows in an obvious challenge.

Charlotte grinned at him.

”But that's no wager as I don't think he will win either. I don't know what I can gamble against if I agree with you.”

Geoffrey considered for a moment.

”I see what you mean, but we could make it even more interesting. You can wager that Vanquish doesn't win, but I will go one step further. I not only think that he won't win, but that he won't even finish the race complete with his rider. If the horse crosses the finish line in any place with his rider still on his back, you will have won our wager.”

Charlotte tilted her head.

”That seems fair enough but I'm afraid I do not understand these things. What will I have to gamble? What do I stand to gain if the Prince's horse crosses the line with his rider intact?”

Geoffrey considered for a moment.

”It's just for fun and neither of us are rich, so we should make the stake something small. Can you suggest anything?”

Charlotte laughed.

”I think that I am the richest woman you know. That blasted diamond is small but worth a king's ransom if I could only sell it, but it seems I cannot so it is only a worthless bauble. How-about that for a stake?”

Geoffrey glared at her as he shook his head.

”Don't be ridiculous. You cannot possibly gamble away your inheritance. Someone will buy it someday. Be serious and think of something that will suit. Something that costs nothing but is fun to win.” He looked to be deep in thought as he considered what to give as a prize. ”I know what I can promise you. If you win, I promise that I will never again moan at your breeches when you are riding about at Ormond.”

Charlotte's face brightened as they drew up to their house.

”Wonderful! I accept and I also I have just the thing to wager with you. It costs almost nothing but might be fun to lose or win, depending on your point of view, of course.”

Geoffrey looked interested.

”I'm not after your diamond, Charlotte.” He smiled as the carriage stopped at the door.

Charlotte shook her head.

”No, I agree that I shouldn't offer that...I was thinking of something that might be far more interesting, I a.s.sure you. It's something that I hold very dear, so in terms of winning, it's very special.”